It’s time to roll up our sleeves and express some concerns about the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster heading into Week 1 of the NFL season.

Yes this is nitpicking, but it’s kind of what I do.

My job is to analyze the entire roster — not just the starters — and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about an NFL team, it’s that your squad is only as good as its weakest link (waving at Dallas Thomas as if I’m Forrest Gump).

Beyond that, below are the five issues I have with the roster the Dolphins will begin the 2017 season with:

1. Miami’s offensive line is very young.

Can you remember a season Miami’s offensive line didn’t lose a starter for at least half the year? I can’t, and I’ve covered the Dolphins for a decade.

While it is ideal to invest in youngsters like Jesse Davis, Anthony Steen, Eric Smith, Isaac Asiata and Jake Brendel, would any of these players be capable of handling a starting role for at least eight games? The verdict on this one isn’t in, but the evidence is stacked against them.

Steen struggled as a starter last season when an injury surfaced, and he had to be benched. Davis is playing a new position at left guard. Mike Pouncey’s hip issues and Ja’Wuan James’ shoulder injury makes these backups important. Maybe my concern will subside if/when the Dolphins sign a veteran offensive lineman or two after the season opener.

2. The Dolphins need to upgrade the fourth tailback spot.

The Dolphins have a impressive tailback trio in Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake, but tailbacks play a very physical position, so depth is important here.

Senorise Perry, who played in 16 games for the Bears in 2015, was hot and cold during training camp and the preseason. He gained 32 yards on eight carries, and scored a rushing touchdown before injuring his knee in Miami’s third preseason game.

But Perry also lost a fumble, and wasn’t very impressive on special teams. Is he really the best the Dolphins could do at that spot? The Dolphins need to continue scouring the waiver wire for talented backs who can be developed.

3. The middle linebacker spot remains unsettled.

Mike Hull lacks size. Why is that an issue? There’s concern about Hull shedding blocks and staying healthy for an entire season as a starter. That’s why Rey Maualuga is here.

But Maualuga is out of shape, and lacks the movement skills needed to help the Dolphins in Sunday’s season opener against Tampa Bay. He will probably shed the weight and get in better condition in the coming weeks, but that won’t happen overnight.

Depth in this unit remains an issue, and the Dolphins should consider adding a veteran like Kelvin Sheppard or Jelani Jenkins in Week 2, when their contracts for the season don’t have to be guaranteed.

4. Do the Dolphins have a competent starting cornerback to put opposite Xavien Howard?

Remember when the Dolphins were saying Byron Maxwell was a better option at cornerback than Brent Grimes after they released Grimes and traded for Maxwell? Well, now Maxwell’s being pushed for his starting spot by Alterraun Verner, who served as Grimes’ backup last year in Tampa Bay.

Anyone else see the irony to this?

Maxwell and Verner will compete this week to determine who starts on the right side. Both of these veterans have deficiencies in their game, so it would be ideal for Miami to rotate them, playing each to their strengths early. The last thing the Dolphins should want is Tampa Bay’s Desean Jackson consistently lined up on Maxwell, running streaks and routes that feature double moves. The Dolphins should speed up rookie Cordrea Tankersley’s development because Maxwell and Verner can only be viewed as progress stoppers at this point.

5. Miami’s core special teams unit has been weakened and needs reinforcements.

People only think about special teams when that unit screws up. Well, the odds of that happening this season have grown slightly. Losing Neville Hewitt, Deon Lacey and Trevor Reilly, linebackers who were all released, means Miami lacks experience tacklers on its core special teams units. That could become a factor on kickoff and punt coverage.

New linebacker Justin March-Lillard will probably jump right in and help, but the Dolphins will need to rely heavily on rookie linebacker Chase Allen and offensive players like MarQueis Gray, Kenyan Drake, Leonte Carroo and Damien Williams to carry that unit until reinforcements arrives.

Every team’s 53-man roster is fluid, so lets hope General Manager Chris Grier and his staff are turning over every rock — combing through the 1,100 recently unemployed football players — with the goal of continuing to improve the Dolphins’ roster, because they’ll probably need reinforcements a month from now when injures water down the team.

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Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is reluctant to answer questions related to the National Anthem debate, and other subjects he feels are not related to football.

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is reluctant to answer questions related to the National Anthem debate, and other subjects he feels are not related to football.

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Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is reluctant to answer questions related to the National Anthem debate, and other subjects he feels are not related to football.

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is reluctant to answer questions related to the National Anthem debate, and other subjects he feels are not related to football.

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Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard says he can be a top CB in the NFL despite his struggles.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard says he can be a top CB in the NFL despite his struggles.